Table of ContentsIntroduction3Administrative theory4The environment of Organization5Ethics at Loblaw7“Back to the Best”- Loblaw’s strategic plan9Structure of an Organization11Human Resources Management13Company’s weaknesses15Used Sources16

IntroductionFor this paper I’ll try to research an organization I am familiar with, Loblaw Companies Limited and apply an administrative theory concept, discussing its strengths and weaknesses. “Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada’s largest food distributor and a leading provider of general merchandise products, drugstore and financial products and services. Through its various operating banners, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a one-stop destination in meeting their food and household needs. This goal is pursued through a portfolio of store formats across the country. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It also offers Canada’s strongest control label program, including the unique President’s Choice, no name and Joe Fresh Style brands.” (1) Loblaw operates ten retailer banners: Loblaw's, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion, Fortino's, Maxi, No Frills, Provigo, Zehrs, and Your Independent Superstore. The company also is diversified at retail, offering Canadian consumers financial services, home, auto, travel and pet insurance, and mobile phone and Internet services.

Administrative theoryIn order to understand the administrative theory concepts at an organization, to my mind it is necessary to clarify the definition of an administrative theory, the history of its emergence. During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, need to develop management techniques that would integrate technology, materials, and worker activities in a productive and efficient manner rose. “Administrative theory focuses on the total organization and attempts to develop principles that will direct managers to more efficient activities. Prominent writers in this perspective were Henri Fayol, Max Weber, and Chester Barnard.” (2) Henri Fayol, in his book “General and Industrial Management” classified the study of management into several functional areas: planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling. Although, now 90 years old, his principles for successful managing, such as efficiency, order, stability, and fairness are still being applied by managers today. Max Weber sought to rationalize the organizations through bureaucratization, which is essentially a set of regulations to control the activity of the organization. As a manager by profession, Chester Barnard relied on his own experience in developing a theory of the organization. He “viewed it as a "cooperative system" of individuals embodying three essential elements: willingness to cooperate, a common purpose, and communication. The absence of any one of these three elements would lead to the disintegration of the organization, according to Barnard. He viewed the distribution of authority as an important process within the organization. However, he felt that the source of authority did not reside in the person who gave the orders; rather, authority resided in the subordinates who could choose to either accept or reject directives from their superiors. Subordinates would assent to authority when four conditions were satisfied: 1) they could and did understand the communicated directive; 2) they believed that the directive was consistent with the purpose of the organization; 3) they believed that the directive was compatible with their own personal interests; 4) they were mentally and physically able to comply with the directive. This view of authority has become known as acceptance theory.” (2)

The environment of Organization
Business environment consists of the external environment, the task environment and the...

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...Case 16
1. The grocery industry is a commoditized industry, which makes it difficult for grocers to sustain through differentiation. Buyer power is high and thus, cost leadership and operational efficiencies are critical. There is fierce competition amongst various grocery stores, with the main players such as Loblaw and A&amp;P holding multi-banner stores in various market segments. Traditional grocery stores also lose some of their market share to drug stores, convenience stores and other retailers who have entered the industry. Threat of substitutes from fast-food and take- away outlets is not as prevalent, since many grocery stores have started stocking ready-to-eat meals and have deli services available for consumers. Competitive pressures are increasing in the industry with the potential entry of Wal-Mart and new delivery methods such as the internet.
2. grocery store industry witnessed a lot of changes. Competitive pressures in the industry are increasing and several new competitors including wal-mart are entering the market. New methods of delivery such as the interned are making it difficult and challenging for traditional based stores to comply. Customer preferences are diversifying and different demands are increasing. In addition to the price war that strike the markets. The maturity of the industry, characterized by flat demand combined with the growth aspiration of the dominant suppliers makes the industry a competitive battleground....

...Loblaw Companies Limited
Introduction
Loblaw Companies Limited were founded in 1919 with two distinct business operations, food processing, and food distribution. As the leader in the Canada grocery industry, Loblaw earned $23.1 billion in 2002, improving scale advantages and being different in its stores and products are the two goals of their strategy. On October 1, 2003, Wal-Mart determined to launch its wholesale brand “Sam’s Club” for changing its weak performance, and achieved the objective of establishing Supercenter in Canada. Under the threat of the world largest retailer’s new actions, it was necessary for Loblaw to adjust its strategy to compete with Wal-Mart and other groceries.
External Analysis
Canadian food retailing reached a high point of $66.8 billion in 2002, but the margin of the supermarket is the lowest of all the industry. In order to increase barging power at the demand side, Canadian grocery stores were often involved in mergers and acquisitions. Overall, consumers’ bargaining power is in middle, even though most customers are loyal, and the food prices already low, but customers’ require products of a high level of identifiability and quality, and the companies need to adjust supply to satisfy the customers’ need. Furthermore, the suppliers’ power would increase by enlarging its market share. Building a good relationship between supplier and mega-grocery is important for both of them to...

...Loblaw Company Ltd.
Loblaw Companies Limited is a subsidiary of George Weston. The company distributes: food products, general merchandise, drugs, and financial services through retail, wholesale, and discount stores. It is headquartered in Toronto.
* Employee Amount: 139 thousand
1. Present Situation of the company (financial results, trends, etc. - whatever you feel is important)
* Loblaw has a strong portfolio of private label brands which provides a margin advantage. However, a substantial portion of annual revenues are derived from its franchisees. The company has no control over franchise’s business operation which may impact the company’s future revenue growth.
Strengths
* Loblaw has a strong portfolio control on private label products (5700) in various categories. (President’s Choice, Organics PC, Blue Menu PC, Joe)
* A strong portfolio of control on label products enables Loblaw to offer cheaper price points which enhances customer loyalty and provides a competitive price advantage to the company. It also provide better margin that result a higher profits.
* According to Data-monitor, President’s Choice was recognized as the number 1 consumer packaged brands based on revenue.
Weaknesses
* A majority of Loblaw’s workforce is unionized. Due to this situation, the company has to renegotiate collective labour agreements periodically. For the long run, this will...

...Business and Selected Stakeholder Relationship |
------- Loblaws Hepatitis A Class ction Case Study |
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Index
Introduction of the Loblaws Hepatitis A Class Action incident 3
Introduction of Loblaws company 3
Definition of class action 4
The reason of the incident 5
Serious impacts and negative media coverage 5
Alternatives 6
a)Precautions before the issue arises 6
b)Remedy after the issue occurred 7
Recommendations 7
Background of the Loblaws Hepatitis A Class Action incident
On September 3, 2002, a class action was launched in Toronto to against Loblaws alleging that customers and other persons may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus because of allegedly contaminated produce at Loblaws' Humbercrest store located at 3671 Dundas Street West in Toronto. This lawsuit relates to an employee of Loblaws infected with Hepatitis A. Although the identity of this employee was not disclosed, the fact was confirmed that this employee, who worked in the section of the store in which products were prepared, displayed and sold, has caused the infection to spread.
Thousands of customers of Loblaws obtained an inoculation following the identification of the infected individual as an employee of Loblaws, working in the produce section of one of its stores. On June 15, 2006, the...

...﻿Loblaw Companies LTD.
Background History
1920’s
The first Loblaw Groceterias store was opened in 1919 in Toronto. In 1924 Loblaw expanded into Buffalo New York. By 1928 Loblaw had expanded all the way to Chicago, Illinois. By then Loblaw’s already had 69 new stores and had built a new state of the art headquarter in Toronto. (History, 2011)
1930’s
In 1933 Loblaw introduced a new “market stores” with full-service meat and produce departments. The founder of Loblaw Theodore Pringle Loblaw passed away in 1933 at the age of 60, by then Loblaw Groceterias had more then 150 stores in Ontario and parts of the United States. In 1939 Loblaw Groceterias was replaced with the name Loblaws. (History, 2011)
1940’s & 50’s
In 1947 W. Garfield Weston acquired 100,000 shares of Loblaw stock and by the 1950s George Weston limited has gained controlling interest of Loblaw Groceterias Co. Limited. In 1956 Loblaw companies limited is incorporated and acquires Loblaw Groceterias in Ontario and Loblaw inc. in the united stated. (History, 2011)
1970’s
In 1972 W. Galen Weston is appointed Chief Executive Officer and he begins cutting costs while looking to rejuvenating the chain by completely redesigning the stores and introducing a new logo. In 1978 the “no name” brand...

...ANALYSIS OF LOBLAW COMPANIES LIMITED
Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to highlight the findings of the audit that was conducted on Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw), a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, and to come to a feasible conclusion about maintaining the company's already successful business. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted through secondary research, using internal and external resources. Since its incorporation in 1956, Loblaw has worked its way up to being one of the largest Canadian private sector employers, as well as the nation's largest food distributor.
Functionality of departments dictates the company's structure, where team superiority stands at the head of this hierarchical organization. These divisions are rigorously tested for compliance on the policies that Loblaw has adopted. Policies and procedures are in place to regulate many areas of the company's business. There are very strict procedures to identify, diagnose and resolve potential problematic situations that may arise regarding food and safety. There are also similar policies in place to prevent environmental degradation. These policies are subject to both internal and external operating commissions. Loblaw demands that its suppliers also strictly adhere to policies dictated by the corporation. These areas affect such activities as quality control and...